Best Air Fryer 2018 – Buyer’s Guide

Referred to by many as the King of air fryers, this Tefal model is the latest in a whole host of ActiFry’s.

One thing which puts it ahead of its competitors is the use of a paddle, which rotates food without the need to do any shaking of the basket yourself.

Even though the design is not as sleek and modern as the other fryers reviewed, it does allow for a viewing window which is incredibly useful to prevent you having to pull out the fryer drawer constantly.

This allows you to check on the progress of your stews, casseroles, stir-fry or dessert with ease. There is also a safety locking lid, so you can rest easy that it won’t cause any harm to your household.

Don’t be worried about it being too complicated to use; with only two buttons, the ActiFry will do all of the work for you. It beeps when ready, so you can leave it to do its job.

Allowing you to enjoy perfectly cooked food with the addition of little or no oil, this Philips model is perfect for any household conscious about the health impact of fried food cooked the conventional way. And its size means the whole family can be fed in one go.

Thanks to the Twin Turbostar technology, all food in the basket is constantly exposed to the hot circulating air. Even when food is piled up, there is no need to continually remove the basket and shake the contents, which is a downside of so many other air fryers.

Hot air from above will also aid the crisping process of your food while making sure it stays perfect on the inside. Just choose one of the four pre-set modes, which are perfect for frozen chips, meat, fish and drumsticks.

The QuickClean basket includes a removable non-stick mesh, and the drawer and basket are dishwasher safe. The Philips Actifry app contains over 200 fabulous recipes to give you some dinnertime inspiration.

Using only half a teaspoon of oil for 1kg of chips, preparing your dinner has never been easier or healthier.

You can also grill, sauté, bake and cook almost anything, making this Breville model the perfect addition to your kitchen to prepare nutritious meals for all the family.

For those conscious about family protection, there is a safety cut out feature. Cooking time is fully adjustable depending on your needs or how well done you like your food.

The rack which is included for grilling is dishwasher safe, and there is also a handy oil, potato and cooking duration guide included in the user manual – meaning less stress for you both before and after your chips are ready.

There is also a brilliant recipe guide, which includes details on how to make cupcakes, stuffed mushrooms, burgers and curries.

With a temperature range between 80°C to 200°C, this is one of the most adaptable air fryers on the market. It also has a massive 5-litre capacity, so it really is the best for a large family too.

Making it easy to enjoy fast food without the guilt, the Power Air Fryer uses super-hot cyclonic air technology to cook your food, meaning very little oil is required.

You can also grill, bake, sauté and roast, so there is no need to debate as to whether you would get a lot of use out of it. Food can be ready up to 70% faster than with using conventional methods, and without the hassle of preheating any ovens too.

Simply add your food to the non-stick basket, slot it into the unit and choose one of seven pre-programmed settings to get going. There is also the flexibility to adjust settings manually. A digital control panel offers complete precision.

With a 4.3L capacity pot and 3.2L capacity basket, you can cook food which is not only healthy but without breaking the bank, as this model is a great budget buy.

The temperature ranges from 80 to 200°C, which is usually only found in higher-priced models. All you need to do is make sure you regularly shake the contents of the basket during cooking, and your food will come out evenly cooked.

It is also more economical than a traditional oven, requiring no preheating and cooking food much quicker.

The only downside is that the on/off button is also the start button; once the time is all set it can be easy to hold the start button for too long, meaning the appliance turns off and all settings are lost.

Air Pulse Technology means that this fryer uses upper heating technology and a fan to circulate hot air around your food at a very high speed. This air, which reaches up to 200°C, cooks food thoroughly and evenly.

With the addition of little or no oil to the process, this air fryer really does earn the ‘Low Fat’ tagline. The drawer also pulls out rather than having to lift any lids, so the fryer is easy to access and also safe, and the basket can be shaken for even cooking.

You aren’t just limited to chips and other fried foods; side dishes, puddings, fish and sauces.

The temperature is easy to control and can range from 150°C to the maximum. It is another great all-rounder and can cook everything from chips to steaks to fish.